Labeling-machine



L. A. HAWTHORNE.

MBI-:UNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2 6. 1917.

Patented June 29, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.v

L. A. HAWTHORNE.

LABELING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 2,6, I9I7.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ORN

L. A. HAWTHORNE.

LABELING MACHINE.

lll

" w/mfss UNITED J STATES PATENT OFFICE. g

LoUIs'A. HAWTHORNE, or?" NEWARK; NEW aEnsExiAssiGNoE To`sTEi'EIJ'UTILITIES INCORPORATED, AOOEPOEATION OE NEW YORK.

LABELINe-MAOHTNE. v

specification Letters ratent. Patented J une 29, 192,0.

1 Application med Juiyae, `1917. serial No. 182,890.

To aZZfwwm t may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS A. HAWTHORNE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newark, in theV county of .Essex and State of New Jersey,have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Labeling-Machines,of. which the following is a specification.l

This invention relates to machines for la`v heling bottles or othercontainers, and has special reference to an automatic type of' machinehaving improved features to facilitate the speedy and accurate handlingof the containers, and the proper. afixing of the labels thereto.

The primaryobject is to provide a novel, simple and reliable machine foratlixing labels to bottles or other containerswherein the labelmagazine, label-aiixing, and the container handling `instrumentalities vare synchronized in such a manner that the .desired labels maybe readilyplaced. on the bottles Vor other containers accurately, ex-v`peditiously and without danger of breakage.

A further and morespecilic object of the invention is to. provide novelmeans for handling the labels. That is' to say,.it is proposedto providea novel arrangementof special instrumentalities for both supplying thelabel with adhesive asV it is released from the storage magazine, andthen bringing it into position to be affixed to the container, as

well as to coordinate therewith the `handling A ofthe containers inamanner to insure the properresults i l'Vith the above and other objectsin View which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention isbetter understood, the same' consistsin the novel construction,combination, and arrangement of parts hereinaftei` more fully described,illustrated and claimed.

A vpreferred andpractical embodiment of the invention is shown in theaccom aan in".

drawings, in whicht Figure' 1 is a topplan view of the labels. ingmachine. i Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view ofthe le.v

verfor controlling the movement' of the label magazine.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation looking from the receiving end` of themachine.

Fig. is a vertical cross sectional view on.

the line of Fig. 2.

Fig.y 6 is an enlarged detail sectional View of the auxiliary labelaflixing device.

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of the'delivery end of the containerguideway..

Fig. 8 is axdetail longitudinal section i corresponding parts throughoutthe severall figures of the drawings.

The present machine primarily and essentially includes in itsorganization a con tailler-advancing deviceV `designated generally as A,and a labeling unit B whose vari- L ous instrumentalities aresynchronized with the said container-advancing device vwhich maybe,`,and preferably is the prime mover y forthe entire apparatus. `T hatis tosay, the

present inventionfprovides means for a'df,

vancing a `bottle orpother container to and through a labelingunit thatrfundamentally includes a pair of spaced parallel label-carlryingribbons or belts R-R These rib-v bons or belts automatically ftake ythelabels.

singly from a magazine `M, supply the adhesive thereto, and position thesame in the path oftravel of the container for the purpose of afliXingthe same thereto.

there is preferably included in the general organization ofthe machine aself-adjusting In this latterfconnection it may also be noted that iauxiliary attlxing device @which assists in the atlxing operation byfirmly pressing' the gummed portions of the label to the bottle.`

Referring particularly to the structural features of the machine inwhich is consolidated. the foregoing features, it will be. observed fiomFig. 2 that the bottle moving or advancing device preferably includes vabed i l which may consist as shown, of the opposite frame members 2 and3 which are secured together by the spacing bolts 4,'as will be seenfrom Figs. 5 and 6, to provide 1 the necessary clearance for themountingA of sprocket Awheels and the other instrumentalities 'necessarytothe proper operation of the apparatus. The opposite frame members 2and 3 are preferably formed at .their upper sides with the verticalguide walls 5-5,

. and 'the horizontal flange' portions 6;6,

which coperate to provide a guideway floor for the Ycontainer guide orrunway Gr formed by the parallel wallsl 5-5, and which, as shown in Fig.6, terminate short of each other-to provide a central clearance slot 7.l

Directly beneath the flange portions 6-6 the said frame members 2 and 3arerprovidedv with suitable conveyer guide channels 8--8 which areintended to receive and guide a container advancing conveyer designatedrgenerally as 9 and consisting of the pivotallyconnected bars or slatsv10 having on their under side suitable sprocket engaging socketportions 11. `At regular spaced intervals, this conveyer 9 is providedwith Vtheupstanding propeller blades 12 which project through theclearance slot -7 inthe floor of the container guideway for the purposeof engaging and advancing the containers therein in single spacedorderas the conveyer is steadily and continuously driven bythesprocketr13 journaled as at 14 between .the frame members 2 and 3 at oneend of the bed of the apparatus.

Vith further reference to the container `Vguideway or runway G formed bythe upstanding walls ;5-5 and lthe horizontal flange portions 6--6, -itwillk be observed Vthat the sameis curved at its delivery end D, asshown in Fig. 1, whereby one of the side walls is intersected by theslots 7 so'that the blades 12 may vpass freely on as'fthe con- *veyer9makes its cycle. vThis formation of thedelivery end Vof the conveyerconveniently provides for deflecting the bottles or other containers,after they have passed through the labeling unit B, out of the line oftheir normal path of travel through the machine to suitable cratingapparatus or the crating position `for the purpose of assembling inshipping crates. And, owing to the novel formation of the conveyer guidechan- Inels 8-*8 which receive the flat slats or bars ofthe labelingunit VB. This framework 15 and-16 which constitute the major portion ofthe superstructure of the labeling preferably includes the opposite sidewalls unit, and the depending shaft-carrying elements 17 and 18 whichare also spaced apart,

as seen from Figs. 5 and 6 ofthe drawings, to accommodate the sprocketwheel 19 which meshes with the socket elements 11 of the conveyer 9 andis carried on theshaft 2O journaled in the said elements 17 and 18. Thissprocket wheel 19 and shaft 20, being `mentalities. l served from thedrawings, the shaft 20 has wheels 25-426, itwill be observed from'thewith the teeth of the gear4 22, and is also engaged with thecontinuously moving conveyer l9, constitute the prime actuating meansfor Yall ofthe label vaffiXing instru- Accordingly, 'as will be obkeyedto one end thereof a driving ,gear 22 which is of mutilated formation,that is, only provided over part of its periphery with gear teeth Vwhilethe balance thereof is smooth, whereby the same may have an intermittentVdriving engagement with a pinion k23 carried by the shaft 24 alsojournaled inthe shaft carrying elements 17 and 18 and fitted with thewheels 25 and 26 which are arranged `in the. separate ad- 80 hesivesupply chambers'27and 28 formed at thelower ends of the said elements 17and 18. Thus, it will be apparent that these wheels 25 and 26 inaddition to performing the function of supplying adhesive to Vtheribbons R-R, also yconstitute the drivingk means therefor, aswill-presently appear.

With further reference to the pinion 23 mounted on the lshaft 24 whichdrives VVthe Y drawings, particularly Fig. 2, that the same is onlyprovided rthroughout a partof its periphery withenough gear teeth tomesh provided'with a concave `portion -for engaging with a smoothportion of theperiphery of the gear 22. This arrangement, therefore,causes the shaft 24 to be locked atcertain intervals during theoperation of the Y apparatus whereby the wheels. 25 and 26 and y100 Yconsequently the ribbons R-R4 will be held"V at rest during theintervall when the container is beingadvanced betweenv the ribbons andagainst `a labelithereon to therebyiix the label in its position on thecontainer. Fur? ther, it may .be noted at Vthis point, that thepropelling blades 12 are so spaced on the Y conveyer 9 that the sprocketwheelf19 which drives the shaft 20kwll make lone'complete revolutionwhile the conveyer'is advancing 110 the distance equal to the spacebetween a pair ofblades, and in turn the complete revolution of theshaft 20 Willcause the gear 22 to impart a complete revolution to theshaft 24 through the toothed portions 115 of the gears 22 and 23. Thus,every time the conveyer advances a distance equal to the space betweenthe blades 12 it first causes the ribbons R-R to be coated with adhesiveby the wheels 25 and 26 toreceive a label from 12o the magazine M, andthen come to rest at a point where the labelwill be positioned di-lrectly across the path ofthe moving container. y Y f A In order toproperly distribute the adhesive coating on the wheels 25 and 26, thereis provided in each of the adhesive chambers 27-28, Ya suitable wipermember 29 which is mounted on a shaft 30 supported in the walls of theadhesive chamber and provided with the periphery of the yadhesivesupplying wheel.

The continuous ribbons R-i-R previouslyV referred to, are preferably ofrelatively thin fieXible steel, and are arranged in spaced pairedrelation in the frameworkv of the labeling unit B to provide for theApassage therebetween'of a bottle or otherV container for the purpose ofafXing a label thereto. These ribbons-are each carried by upper andlower sets of paired idler pulleys 33- 33 Vand 34-*34 which arerespectively journaled in the upper part of the walls 15 and 16 of thesuperstructure of the labeling unit and the walls of the shaft carryingelements 17 and 1S.-V And, as previously explained, the ribbons aredriven by the adhesive supplying wheels 25 and 26 which have africtional engagement with the' set of pulleys 34w-34. For the purposeof maintaining these ribbons sufficiently taut and to take up anyunnecessaryslack therein the upper sets of idler pulleys. 33-33 arepreferably mounted on shafts S-S j ournaled in the adjustable blocksL35, as shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 5 of the drawings. And, in order toprovide a suitable support for the span of the` ribbons between eachpair of pulleys 33--33 of the upper sets of idlers, the walls 15 and 16are provided with the upstanding platen members 36, so that when themagazine M ,isl lowered to place a label on the ribbons, the latter willbe firmly supported to insure the accurate placing of the labelsthereon.

In connection with the magazine M which holds the labelswhich aresupplied to the adhesive coated ribbons R, it will be observed that thesame preferably consists of a suitable label containing frame 37 which4holds the labels in such a manner that the lowest Aone may be easilyreleased, andthe entire frame is adjustably carried by means of suitablenuts 3S on the rods or standards 39 whichiare slidably supported atsubstantially their intermediate portions in the guides'40 formed in theupperends of the walls 15 and 16, and are also guided at theirv 42operates continuously and the ribbons lock the 'magazine M in itselevated position,

fto release theV magazine for operation at the Jdesired time,`the armf47of the., sleeve 43 `has pivotally connected therewith a link providemeans for preventing labels from being deposited on the ribbons,`exceptwhen bottle is passing through the guideway and about toV enter withinthe limits of the labeling unit B. Therefore, in order to exceptwhenabottle ispassing through the labeling unit, a suitable restrainingldevice n is provided for the magazine. i The device essentiallycomprises a sleeve 43 which surrounds oneV of the standards 39 andis'provided in its upper portion with a notch 44V which is adapted toreceive a pin 45 carried by the rod 39 when the sleeve is `rotated asufficient distance to cause the pin to `slide off of the upper edge 43Lthereof. That is to say, onel ofthe rods 39 carries a pin 45 whichnormally rests upon the upper edge of the sleeve 43, whereby the entiremagazine will be held in its elevated position, or on the other hand,whenv the sleeve is turned so. that the pin 45 drops into the notch 44,theImagazine will be perf mitted to drop wherebyv the ends of both 49,'the other end of whichy is pivotally Connected with a bell crank leverQpivoted as guideway to beengaged by the passing conv tainers.

Accordingly, willibe apparent that when a container. is'passing throughthe guideway 110A G, it will 'strike againstthe arm 52 which,

through the., instrumentalities just described, will turn the sleeve` 43a sufficient distance to enable the pin 45to drop into the slot 44 andthus lpermit Vthe entire 115 weight `of the magazine to rest upon theworking` periphery of the, cams 42. `The peripheriesof-these cams aresuch that the magazine will be permitted. to drop and deposit a label onthe ribbons Rv--Rl therebeneath, and the continuous rotation of theshaft 20`Iwhich carries the cams 42 will after the magazinehas beenlowered, cause lthe same to again be elevated and thereby lift thepin 45out of the notch 44 whereby 125 the spring 46 will turn the sleeve backto its normal position and place the pin'on the upper` edge 43a thereof.

After the label has been deposited Von the ribbons R by the lowering ofthe magazine,

. ltainer guideway, 'and carry at their lower sol " turn :carried by thevertically disposed tlejeleinents 55v loosely `iournaled as at thecontinued movement of the said ribbons i vwill carry the label intoposition to be fixed by the. container, at which time the ribbons willcome to rest owing to the smooth 'periphery of the gear wheels 22 and*23 coming into contact. Then, the continuous movementfof the containerthrough the guideway'under the influence of the blade '12 of theconveyer will causethe container to push the flabel from the ribbons sothat thev gummed end portions thereof will engage the exterior 'of thecontainer to thereby affix the label/Howeveig as previouslyindicated,fas the container passes from between the' ril'ibonsR-Q-Rlwhich both. sup ply the label 'with adhesive and position thelsame for aiiXing, it is engaged by the auXiliarylabel wiper or aflixingdevice C. This device is in thel nature of a gate, and

preferably` consists of a pair of vertically disposed container engagingrollers 53 carried upon suitable varms '54, which are in pin- 56 in oneof the. side walls 5 of the conends suitable crank arms 57 whose freeends are fitted with depending bracket rods 58'whicli are connected by asuitable springt/)9, whereby both ofthe rollers 53 and 54 are yieldablyheld in the position Vshownin Fig. 1 of the drawings. .Tliiis, when; acontainer is pushed in the guideway betweenthe ribbons R-R, it will beVeng'faged by the rollers 53 which will firmly.l

wipefover thelabel4 andthereby press it againstv the 'exteriorV of thecontainer to positively insure the afliXing thereof.

However, while .this deviceris desirable sinceit positively and firmlypressestheY label on tothe bottle, itis notA entirely indispensable,especially under certain conditionsof use.- rlvhat is to say, when therib- 'bons which carry the labels are spaced to permit of the freepassage of the bottles therebetween, .or in other words, are spacedfarther apart than the diameter of the con- Y tainers as shown inv thepresent drawings,

the device Cis especially useful, but where the ribbons are arrangedrelatively close i together, t'. e., less than the diameter of thecontainer as in the caseof applying small labels,y the ribbonsthemselves will exert suiicient pressure "on the gummed ends vof thelabels and cause thesame toadhere to the bottles, since as the latterare forced" between the ribbons they will turnjon their axes, because oftheir thin and flexible nature to permit the passage of tliebottle, andthus produce the necessary vpressure for ,causingthe label to adhere' tothe outer surface of the container. In the latter case,

it will of coursev beclear that the deviceV C may still be utilized, butthe aflixing of the label is primarily accomplished by the acthesive-supplying tape.

of pushing the container between the spaced parallel belts or ribbonswhichvare coatedY with adhesive and carry the Vnlabels from the magazineinto" the position to be engaged by the passing container.

varea at each end for receiving adhesive, it is f v n especiallydesirable that the center oi' the` label also be supplied VVwithadhesive. `Accordingly. it is proposed to provide a con Under somecondi` struction involving Va third ribbon or ad- This Yforni oftheinvention is illustrated in Figs. '8 9 and 10 of the drawings, andinvolves nodeparture from the essential 'features'of construction `ofthe machine shown in the rest ofthe drawings. That is to say, in thismodificatioii,it is contemplated torprovide ya, tl1ird ribbon Hpositioned between the two ribbons R-R heretofore described, andYlocated at the top of the labeling unit.

As will be observed from liig. 8, this ribbon RVis mounted to run onthe'p'ulleys '33a which are mountedV on the saine shafts S-1S as thepaired sets of idlers 83-33, 4whereby the saine movement of the ribbonsR-KR will be thereby imparted to the centerfribbon lt. kThe outersurface of this ribbon R is supplied .with adhesive'through;theprovision-of an auxiliary adhesive-holding chamber() whichfis mountedbetween the' weils 15 and 16 fand Vhas journaledjtherein an adhesivesupplying roller "51 whosev periphery is engagedby `the free endrofwiper spring GQ-fasteneilr as Vat 63 to theV outer surface of theadhesive lioldingchamber as will be clear from Fig; 8. rfhus, thisarrangement provides for supplying 'aid- Vhesive to the centerofthelabel without interferring in any way with'the passage of thebottles or other container between. the ribbons RfR. Y v 'i Y Referringnow to the manner of operation of the apparatus, it will be seen thatsince the conveyer 9 .is driven continuously by the sprocket wheel 13,the bottles or other containers will'be impelled in the guideway Cf by'means of the blades 12 at regular spaced intervals, to andy through thelabeling unit B.V The continuous operation of the conveyer alsocauses acontinuous operation of the sprocket 19 and the shaft 20, andconsequently, the continuous rotation of the gear 22 which has anintermittent engage'-1 ment with the pinion 2? mounted` on the shaft24.` that carries'the wheels which move the ribbons B R- and also supplythe` same with adhesive. rI'hus, the continuous move-. ment of theconveyer causes the intermittent movement of the ribbons lt-R wherebythe same will cometo" rest in a position to' hold ready to be sentto thecrating machinery orthe label in the path of the 'movingfcontainei. Y in `When a container ,is impelled ,along the giiideway Git firststrilresthe arm 52'of the bell cranlr() which operates the sleevezl oftheV restraining device foi'r the magazinez M, thus causing the pin '45on one'of the lrods 39 of the magazine to drop into the notch 14 vlwhereby the` ends-of the rods'89 will be permitted to engage with thezenith of the working peripheriesy of the rotating cams Ll2. In themeantime, the continuous move.- ment of the conveyer will V'causetheadvance of the ribbons R-Rto carry the adhesive thereon to '1 aposition'- beneath the f label magazine where the same willjbeloweredand aV llabel Vdeposited on the` ribbons or wiped thereby fromthe magazine. Then,

the continued movement ofthe conveyer will cause the zenith of the camsl2 to engage y the ends of the rods39 and cause themagaj push the labelfrom the'bel'ts, and then engage the rollers 53 of the auxiliaryaflixing device C- Which, as previously explained,

assist in aiiiXing the label by pressing the ends thereof intoengagement with ythe eX- terior of the container.

the delivery end D of the guideway G and'is the like, while at the sametime, the blade 12 which has been vpushing the -container throuo'h theOuideway G passes on through b b the clearance wall 7.

lVithout further description, it is thought that the many. featuresandadvantages of the present invention will be readilyapparent, and itwill, of course, be understood that various changes in the form',proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted towithoutdeparting ,from the spirit of the invention or scope of theappended claims.

VI claim: 1 Y

1. A labeling machine including' a frame,

a labeling Vunit consisting of spaced continnousv imperforate flexiblelabel carrying ribbons, means for applying adhesive to the As thecontainer is advanced by the conveyer, throughthe .device C, it strikesagainst thecurv'ed Wall of outerl surfaces of said ribbons, a labelholding magazine, rods having an adjustable engagement atl their upperends withsaidlabel holding magazine, guides carried by said frame forcausing' the. lmagazine carrying rods to move vertically, meansfor-shifting said rods to bringthe magazine in position r to deliver alabel tothe im'perforate ribbons,

and `means forv'advancing a container bey tween the' ribbonsl andagainst a1 label carried thereby. r i i' i i 2. A labeling machine'including `a pai'rof` n spacedV endless label carrying belts arrangedat eachside'of a container guide-way,means arranged Vbeneath the`container guide-way for supplying adhesive to said`ibelts,'and anVauxiliary adhesive supplying` device varranged between said `spaced,belts and above the containerf'guide-way and outof the path of thecontainers. u A A labelingv machine including a frame having a containergiiide-wa.y,"upp'er and lower setsof pulleys supported in saidfframe ateach side ofthe guide-way, `continuous label carrying belts mounted onsaid pulleys, means for supplying adhesive to the'belts as they passover the lower sets of, pulleys,l a. label magazine positioned above.theupper sets oflwpulleys, and anauxiliary adhesive i supplying devicearranged v between labelcarrying .v magazine andV also between the saidbelts. f f 14. `Aflabeling machine' including acontainer guide-way,means "for propellingfthe containers in 'said guideway,1meansforpositioning adhesively'coated labels across said guideway,` a magazinefor supplying labels to said. means, meansfor causing said magazine toVmove toward and from said label l aiixingmeans,saidmeans comprising apair Y of duplicate cams actuated by the movement of the 'means forpropelling the Vcontainers in theV guideway, and a restraining devicefor maintaining said -magazine in its elevatedp'osition.` V l u 5. Alabeling machine including a convtainer guideway, means for propellingvthe containers `in said guidewaymeans-for positioning adhesively coatedlabels across said guideway, a magazine for supplying labels to saidmeans, means for causing said magazine to move toward and fromsaid labelailixing means, and4 a restraining de'- vice` for maintaining 'saidmagazine in its elevated position, said restraining device thenpper'sets of pulleys and beneath. said consisting of a laterally projectingpin cari v.

ried by the frame ofthe magazine, a spring tensioned notched "sleeve, alink connected.

kwith said sleeve, and a trip-armconnected with-said link and having aportion thereof disposed inthe path of containers passing through the`guideway 6. A labeling machine including a pair of adhesive supplyingand label carrying ribl Vadhesive supplyingand label'car'r'ying rib-v l5loperation of the label magazine.-

bons mounted in spaced relation, paired setsv v between the ribbons tocause the intermittent movementfof the ribbons, and cams associated withsaid lgearing yfor causing the 7. Alabeling'maehine including la. pairof bons mounted in spaced relation,'paired sets of pulleys for carryingsaid ribbons, means for supplying adhesive to the outer faces oi"V saidribbons, alabelmagazinefor supplying labels to said ribbons, a guidewayformed between said ribbons, a container propellingr device working insaid guideway, means for continuously driving said device, combinedadhesive supplying and ribbon driving wheels v engaging withsaidribbons, gearing ineluding mutilated lgears between said containerpropelling devicepand said wheels, vand cain means operatedlsynchronously with the mutilated gearing for causing the operation ofthe magazine. e Y

8. A labeling machine including a pair of endless adhesive supplying andlabel carry- A Y ing ribbons mounted in Vspaced relation, meansfor'impelling a container Vbetween said ribbons, means driven by saidmeans for impelling the containers for actuating the ribbons, aVmagazine for supplying labels to the ribbons, said magazine comprisinga label carrying frame', standards carrying the in'rame, and arestraining device having means for operatively engaging one of saidstandardsand adapted to be operated by passing containers forcontrolling the movementr of.

the magazine.

9. Av labeling machine including a Vpair of endless adhesivesupplying'and label carryA-A ing ribbons mounted in spaced relation,

means for impelling a container between said' ribbons, gearing driven bysaid` means for impelling the containers for actuatingithe ribbons andhaving cams associatedtlierecarrying iframe, standards carrying theframe at one end and having their opposite y ends engaging said cams,fand arQntainer controlled restraining device engaging one of saidstandards. f A

10. A labeling machine including fanpair of spaced adhesiveV supplyingand labelingV positioning ribbons, means for supplying labels to saidelements, a guidewayV having y a slot arranged between said elements,con'- Iveyei' traveling beneath vsaid .guideway and having containerpropelling blades'projecting through saidV slot, and means actuated bythe conveyer forcontrollingthe movement of themagazine and ribbons;

with, amagazine for supplying labels to the 1 ribbons, said magazinecomprising 'a `label' In testimony' whereof I hereunto atlixiny isignature in the presencefof two Wltnesses- Y liioU'is A'. HAWTHORNE.

llVitnesses: l l i' I DUNGANMCINTYRE, Jr., ERNEST 1W. Tarrina

